Digital Handbill

January 13, 2008

This will be easy enough to get around. In fact, a lot of money could be made by selling space heaters and portable air conditioners. Also, thermostats could easily be isolated to think the rest of the house warmer or colder, packed with ice, or wrapped with a warm towel. Wouldn't it be smarter and less Orwellian for California to encourage solar powered homes?

The proposed rules are contained in a document circulated by the
California Energy Commission, which for more than three decades has set
state energy efficiency standards for home appliances, like water
heaters, air conditioners and refrigerators.

The changes would allow utilities to adjust customers' preset
temperatures when the price of electricity is soaring. Customers could
override the utilities' suggested temperatures. But in emergencies, the
utilities could override customers' wishes.